For the influenza A(H1N1) virus, the highest protein yields were obtained with the VERO cell line. However, with influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses of both lineages, protein yields from the VERO Tenofovir supplier cell line were 1.5 to 10-fold lower than those obtained with the MDCK-1 and MDCK-3 cell lines. These experiments were designed as a proof of concept that influenza viruses isolated in cell cultures could be successfully used for production of influenza

vaccines in certified mammalian cell lines selected by vaccine manufacturers. The MDCK cell lines proved to be sensitive for primary isolation of influenza A and B viruses. The viruses studied retained their genetic and antigenic properties well during propagation in the cell lines. Antigen and protein yields were comparable in all different combinations of cell lines for primary isolation and for production. The scarcity of positive clinical specimens with a sufficiently high virus titer and/or volume to allow for performance of all the experiments limited the total number of isolates tested. However,

influenza viruses isolated in certified cell lines fulfilled all of the requirements needed for acceptable vaccine seed viruses. Although the A(H1N1) seasonal viruses used in the present study have been replaced by the A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses since the 2009 pandemic, these results may buy Ku-0059436 be applicable to the
age as well. The feasibility of influenza viruses isolated in certified cell lines for use in egg-based production platform is currently under evaluation and those results will be presented

elsewhere. Isolation of recent influenza A (H3N2) viruses is becoming increasingly difficult in eggs, which severely limits the number of available virus candidates that could be evaluated for all vaccine production. Alternative strategies must therefore be designed, tested, and evaluated including the use of viruses isolated in approved cell lines for further propagation in both cell-based and egg-based influenza vaccine manufacturing. The promising results obtained in the present study may assist decision making by public health laboratories, regulatory agencies and industry regarding the generation of virus isolates for cell-based manufacturing of influenza vaccines Several co-authors are employees of companies that produce influenza vaccines. The remaining co-authors declare no conflicts of interest. The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Part of this work was funded by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA). The authors acknowledge Dr. Theodore Tsai and Tony Piedra for providing clinical samples used in this study.